Olke Andringe: A Burgher Lineage in British Ceylon – By Coreene Kennedy ·
Source : thuppahis
I thought that I would share this abridged version of the story of my 4th great grandfather Olke Andringa; I do have the full document, all the references, research document details available if anyone wants them. Otherwise, enjoy the read!
Below is the signature of my 4times Great Grandfather Olke ANDRINGA.
The Andringa family can trace their line back to around 1341 in Franeker, Friesland. At that time Friesland was an independent state that was coveted by the Hollanders. There were frequent wars, sieges and uprisings until 1422 when a truce was declared. In 1522 Friesland and Holland came under Hapsburg rule and the wars ended.
Born on December 26th, 1741, in Kuinre, Netherlands to a family that bought timber from across Europe he joined the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a sailor in 1759.
He made a total of 14 round trips back and forth between Netherlands and Batavia (Jakarta) and Ceylon.
In spite of company rules against private trading, many who worked for VOC did. Olke managed to amass a considerable fortune.
In 1775 he collected the equivalent of more than $1M Australian (2025) from the VOC
In 1764, Olke married in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, Geesje STAM. Whilst Olke sailed back and forth for the VOC, Geesje remained home. As well as having 7 children to him, she also managed their business affairs.
Thus it was a surprise to me when I found that on 24th April, 1794, an advertisement appeared in the Amsterdam Courant advising that if anyone accepts any contracts, bills of sale or goods from his wife Geesje Stam without his, Olke Andringa’s approval, the sale or purchase will be void
I felt very sorry for Geesje who had not only worked hard managing the business but had also managed her seven pregnancies, given birth and buried some of her babies, on her own. What fortitude.
Having sailed from Enkhuizen on 24th August 1779 as Skipper of the Hoogkaspel he arrived in Jakarta in May 1780.
Olke did not return to the Netherlands. He never saw his wife again. Instead he settled in Colombo, Ceylon with a second family. This was not unusual for the times when men often did not return home for two years or more.
Olke lived with a Dutch born widow, Magdalena Elizabeth Sieveritz (nee Strobach). Magdalena was wealthy in her own right. Olke and Magdalena did have slaves. I have a Court report and Inquest (1800) into the death of one named Valentine who went missing and died at the hands of ruffians in 1797.
In 1801 Olke had a child with Magdalena. The child was more than likely the second that she had with Olke. The first was a daughter named Catharina Elizabeth born 24th May, 1789. Baptism records show that although she bore the surname Sieveritsz, baptism records of 31st May 1789 show her named as the child of Olke and Magdalena.
The second child born in 1801, Agneta Margaretha, was definitely the child of Olke and Magdalena. She became my 4th great grandmother.
When Olke’s wife Geesje Stam died in 1805, Olke married Magdalena. He also formally ‘adopted’ both girls changing their name to Andringa.
In 1805 Olke saw his older daughter Catharina marry Christianus Cornelius UHLENBECK.
His second daughter, Agneta Margaretha, my 4th great grandmother married 24th February 1820; they had 11 children including a set of twins. Only two were boys. Think of all those girls to marry off – all those dowries!
Jacob Piachaud, son of Major Francois Louis Piachaud, De Meuron Regt of Nyon, Switzerland.
Jacob had been born in Madras India on June 16th 1797, son of Francois Piachaud and Johanna Dorothea Hageman (of Sweden).
Having been defeated in the battle with the British over control of Ceylon, and absorbed into the British East India Company’s army, the De Meuron Regt. They were in India with the 77th Highland Regiment; also in that company was its Brevet Major, and Deputy paymaster, Lachlan Macquarie
Having been educated in Geneva and completed compulsory military training, Jacob went to Colombo Ceylon where his mother and youngest sister lived; he was employed as an Actuary with the Bank of Ceylon.
Olke lived a life full of adventure and prosperity. Beginning at age 17 he had spent 20 years travelling the Globe covering some 189,000 sea miles.
By 1784 he had risen to Harbour Master of the Port of Colombo. When he retired in 1795 he had served 36 years with the VOC.
In the silhouette (Silhouette portrait of Olke Andringa, member of Lodges Salomon and De Standvastigheid, ca 1775 – 1791; anonymous artist) below he looks very prosperous –
Olke died on 5th July 1812 in Ceylon.
Sadly I don’t know where he was buried in Colombo except for this note in a book on Ceylon Tombstones – #1547.—July 31, 1812—Oeke Andringa. Captain of the Navy and Master Attendant of Colombo in Dutch East India Co.’s Service. Aged 72.
I do know that I am pleased to have found him, fleshed out his story and brought him to life for a little while.
THAT signature says it all!
